Benin Appoints Spike Lee Ambassadors to African-Americans

Benin has appointed American filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer and author Tonya Lewis Lee, as thematic ambassadors to strengthen ties between Benin and African-Americans in the U.S. Their role includes promoting cultural tourism and supporting initiatives aimed at reconnecting the African diaspora to their historical, cultural, and spiritual roots. This appointment aligns with Benin's recent efforts to encourage descendants of enslaved Africans to reclaim their heritage, including a new law granting nationality to those with African ancestors taken during the transatlantic slave trade and a citizenship application website. The initiative draws inspiration from Ghana's 2019 Year of Return campaign but is deeply anchored in Benin's history as a key hub of the slave trade. Spike Lee, who has traced his ancestry to Cameroon and Sierra Leone, and Tonya Lewis Lee, who has successfully applied for Beninese citizenship, have long advocated for civil rights and social justice through their creative works. While the appointment has been largely praised as a powerful cultural statement, some have questioned the decision not to include other prominent Benin-born figures in the role.